The Weimar Republic 1918-1923 Flashcards
Who was blamed by the German people for the diktat?
The new Democratic Party- the Weimar government
What is a diktat and give an example?
An agreement forced upon someone
The treaty of Versailles (1919), sign by the Weimar government
What were the economic terms of the treaty of Versailles?
Reparations of 136,000 million marks must be paid
What were the military terms of the treaty of Versailles?
The army, limited to 100,000, could only be used internally
The navy was cut down to bare bones (no submarines at all)
No airforce was allowed
The Rhineland was demilitarised (it bordered France)
What were the territorial terms of the treaty of Versailles?
Alsace and Lorraine were lost to France
Poland, Belgium and Denmark also gained land, some places even voted themselves out of Germany
They lost all there colonies (in Africa)
The port of Danzig was made international, not run by Germany
What was Dolchstoss (the stab in the back)?
The German people believed they were never defeated and politicians betrayed them (kaiser gave war winning propaganda up until the final moments)
Even Fredrich Ebert, the Weimar chancellor never accepted full defeat
What did Ebert do to ease the unrest in Germany after the war?
Set up a temporary government and created a new constitution (1919)
What was the new constitution like? (1919)
It was more democratic than the one under the kaiser (meaning the people had more control)
What were the terms of the constitution? (1919)
Members of the Reichstag were elected every four years
Men and woman over 20 could vote
Proportional representation was used
Local governments and councils were still used
The president chose the chancellor and could dismiss all if needed
The chancellor was the head (needed a majority in the Reichstag to pass laws)
What was the Reichstag?
The dominant house of the new German parliament
What is proportional representation?
The number of Reichstag seats given depended on the percentage of votes the party got
What was the Reichsrat?
The other house in the German parliament
How did Ebert (president) gain support politically?
Promised the head of the army that there will be no reforms
Reassured business owners and industrialists there will be no nationalisation
Ensured the support of the trade unions by promising a maximum eight hour work day
What were the weaknesses of the new constitution?
Proportional representation destabilised the government as getting a majority for decisions was very difficult
The fact there was a emergency decree made it seem weak; the German people agreed with this
What were the reasons for Germany’s bankruptcy? What did this lead to initially?
They spent all their money on the war effort
The treaty of Versailles meant they had to pay reparations and lose profitable areas to other countries
1923, Germany could no longer pay
What did the French do in retaliation to the Germans not paying? (1923)
The occupation of the Ruhr
Sending troops in, the French ‘confiscated’ raw materials, machinery and goods and arrested those who obstructed them in doing so, and then brought in there own workers as replacements
What was the response of the German people? (1923)
Why was the Ruhr so significant?
Angry at the French but more resented the Weimar government for letting it happen.
The Ruhr was where 80percent of their raw materials lay - a big hit to the German economy
What was the result of Germany’s severe debt? And how did it happen?
Inflation
Shortages meant goods were more valuable so the price went up.
When no one could buy anything, the government was then forced to print money to compensate (initially worked)
Because there was so much more money, the prices went up (even more inflation) and turned into hyperinflation
What were the results of hyperinflation?
Everyone suffered from shortages and found it difficult to buy what was needed
People with large, life long, savings money turned worthless
Who benefitted from hyperinflation?
Big businessmen in debt became worthless
Foreign visitors own currency rose against the German mark
What did those on the right wing want?
Keep society stable with a strong, powerful leader
Support capitalism and family values
Nationalists (nation over individual)
Wanted the kaiser back and Germany to be powerful again
(Fascism and nazism are extremes)
What did those on the left wing want?
Change society rapidly with equal rights
Opposed capitalism
Internationalists (stressed co-operating of nations)
Abolish the classes with a revolution (following Russia)
(Communists are extreme)
Why did people support extreme parties more?
They were angry and vulnerable, wanting quick change
What was a main cause of violent political unrest between the parties?
They each had private armies which including still angry soldiers from the war
